London Britannia Airport plans unveiled

Designs for a new six runway airport to the east of London have been unveiled, as mayor Boris Johnson continues to campaign for the development.

The project – which designers argue could be completed for £47.3 billion – would alleviate overcrowding at London Heathrow Airport and bolster trade, argue proponents.

London Britannia Airport, as it would be known, could be built within seven years of approval argues the Thames Estuary Research & Development (Testrad) which is behind the project.

The group says the island scheme avoided the problems of other land-based airport developments, such as the construction of a third runway at London Heathrow.

These include demolition of houses, removal of green field sites, bird strikes, acquisition of private land and demolition of industrial infrastructure.

“The new London Britannia Airport concept plan gives London the airport it will need to support its world city status into the 21st century.

“It also provides a solution to the challenge of incorporating London’s expected growth in population of two million and a facility which can be linked to the whole of the UK while both the East and West of London will each benefit from regeneration,” said Testrad chief executive Bridget Rosewell.

Key to the potential success of the airport was “separating people from planes”, Rosewell added, by giving passengers the benefit of air travel but without noise because all aircraft landing and departures would be over the estuary rather than residential areas.

Built on a new island in the Thames Estuary, the proposed new airport would also minimise disruption to London residents.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “This is further welcome argument in favour of the feasibility of having a new hub airport in the Thames estuary.

“With so many options available for a multi-runway hub airport in a new location, it would be folly for the Airports Commission to give countenance to the prospect of expanding Heathrow, the most noise-polluting airport in Europe.”

The Davies airport commission is currently reviewing potential sites for more airport capacity in the south-east, including additional runways at Gatwick and Heathrow.